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General discussion

CD Tray Problem Add-on

Nov 29, 2003 8:48PM PST

Hi,
This is an update to my Nov. 25 message, "CD Tray Opens w/o Warning". I'm posting this as a new message just in case late add-ons to previous messages don't show up on moderators' "radar screens".

I first asked why my CD rom tray keeps opening and closing without apparent cause. Bob Proffit said it was usually either a trojan like Black Orifice or that the CD was getting old. So here's what I did.

First I downloaded a well-received program named "BO-Detect" to see if my computer was infected. It wasn't. BO-Detect reports my computer is clean. Also, my CDs (both of them) aren't too old - about two years and they're not even used that regularly.

The two CD-Roms on my computer include one for read(ing) only (Drive G) and another for reading and writing (burning) CDs (Drive H). The CD whose door keeps opening is Drive G -- the read-only one.

Then, just today, I first noticed that all references in my Windows Explorer to this Drive G (read-only CD) are gone!

Maybe this is the reason the door keeps opening. All of the software to support the drive seemingly has been erased or at least the drive letter has been lost.

I can say without doubt that I did not erase this drive myself. I haven't even done anything lately with my computer to make me think I could've accidentally erased the drive or its software. Nevertheless, all references to that drive are gone.

Do you have any suggestions about how I can restore this drive and its software in my Windows? It evidently is not Plug & Play because, if it were, subsequent starts of my computer would have shown this hardware as being a new addition to my computer.

Thanks for any help.

Discussion is locked

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Re:CD Tray Problem Add-on
Nov 29, 2003 9:52PM PST

Let's start with the BIOS. Go into the BIOS at start-up and see what it reports on the 4 IDE-ports: 1 or 2 harddisks (you didn't tell) and 2 CD's.
Then reboot and note what the BIOS says when it reports what it finds on the IDE-drives on the screen. Should be the same.

Then boot into MS-DOS. You might need to use a boot diskette and ask for CD-support. MS-DOS boot from the hard disk probably won't support CD's. And see what dir c: up to dir h: report (there should be cd's in the drive, or you would get an error message).

Post back your findings, and include a report on the way you partitioned your hard disk(s). That must be the case, I think, or the drive letters wouldn't be g: and h:.

This might well be some hardware trouble. Not necessarily a Windows 98 problem. CD's should be auto detect, if physically OK and connected.

And remember: any addition of a message to a thread (even if more than a month old) puts it on top of the list. That's all the 'radar' the mods (and us normal users) have, I think.

Kees

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CD likely "died."
Nov 29, 2003 10:06PM PST

The behaviour is consistent with a dieing drive.

Such things are rarely repaired since replacements can be found from 20 to 30 dollars. Last hurrahs?

Plug JUST the failed drive in the IDE cable with the failed drive set to MASTER. Boot up and see if the drive works. If not, shutdown and set the other drive as MASTER and connect ONLY that one to the IDE cable and see if it functions. Replace the unit that doesn't function.

While you may feel 2 years is short for a rarely used drive, it's not uncommon.

Bob

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Re: To Kees and Bob
Nov 29, 2003 11:52PM PST

Thanks for your help. Both of you mention (again) that the drive could be on its last legs and I just saw this afternoon that the outside "open/close" button no longer works, either. In fact, the drive is now permanently open. Maybe it is a goner.

Still, I'll try the technical steps that Kees mentioned. Right now it's late Sunday night where I am and I'll get on it first thing tomorrow. Admittedly, I've first got to figure out what Kees said for me to do(grin).

Answer to Kees' question: I have only one hard drive. The drive letters were assigned by the tech guy at the shop where I bought this thing.

I'll get back with you as soon as I have some addition info and thanks again.

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Drive door stuck open. The last test...
Nov 30, 2003 12:02AM PST

Power down, plug JUST the power cable to the drive. Power up and see if the drive's eject button works. Push the door closed, try the button.

Dead? Dead...

Last fun things to try? Disassemble it and wiggle all the connections you can find. Button it back up and put just the powre cable on and see if the eject button works. If not, remove and decorate it as a new bookend or fill with lead for a solid doorstop.

Bob

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Re:Re: To Kees and Bob
Nov 30, 2003 4:56AM PST

Given this info, I would replace the drive without even bothering about what the BIOS and MS-DOS have to say about it. You won't get a decent file listing from a dir-command with the door open! I expect something like "drive not ready", which certainly is true.


Kees

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Requested Info - Part 1
Nov 30, 2003 3:04PM PST

Note: I wrote most of the following before I checked the forum this morning for new posts. From Bob's and your latest posts it seems I've just acquired a new bookend. Still, I'm posting the info you asked for because, for me, there is the central mystery about why all software references to my CD drive have disappeared.

Here's the info you requested earlier. Maybe there's something here to give a clue.
-------------------

Dear Kees,
I just remembered something that happened last week that could be important in finding the cause of my troubles. In my first post on 25 Nov. I wrote that my wife shut off my computer using the kill button (not the standard Windows shut down procedure). The next morning, when I turned the computer on for the first time, I automatically found myself well inside the BIOS on boot up. I didn't purposely change any settings, but it could have happened when I had a hard time figuring out how to exit the BIOS. At the time I hadn't figured out that hitting ESC button on my keyboard would get me out of the BIOS without saving any changes, so I exited after hitting the "save and exit" selection. My troubles with this CD-ROM started soon after that.

(continued Part 2 . . .)

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Requested Info - Part 2
Nov 30, 2003 3:07PM PST

Here are today's BIOS settings that you asked me to check. These are from inside the BIOS under the BOOT heading
1. Removable Drive [Legacy Floppy]
2. IDE Hard Drive [ST230413A]
3. ATAPI CD-ROM [16 x 10]
4. Other Boot Device [INT8 Device Monitor]
Plug & Play OS - NO
------------------

Step #2 - Data from Reboot
Diskette Drive A: 1.44 M, 3.5 in.
Diskette Drive B: None
Pri. Master Disk: 20020MB, UDMA4
Pri. Slave Disk: None
Sec. Master Disk: CDROM, Mode 4
Sec. Slave Disk: None
------------------

Step #3 - Data from MS-DOS Boot
Rebooting from Windows into MS-DOS takes me to a black screen with a "C:\ Windows" prompt. I have two problems with checking the info from MS-DOS. First, I don't know what you meant in your message by "ask for CD-support". Is that a command line prompt? Secondly, if I do need an MS-DOS boot disk is there someplace on the internet where I can download it? I don't have one with me now.
------------------

Other Info
As I said yesterday, I have one hard drive partitioned as Drive C (only).
The other drives created when I bought this machine were A: floppy; G: the
CD reader; H: the CD read/write. Now, all reference to G drive has now
disappeared within Windows Explorer (and the BIOS, too?).

I still am wondering why, if this CD (hardware) is failing or failed, did
all (software) references to this CD reader in my Windows disappear? That's
still a mystery. Yesterday the tray to the CD was stuck "open". This morning
on first boot up it stayed open but during the reboot(s) it started opening
and closing as it is still doing now.

(continued Part 3 . . .)

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Requested Info - Part 3
Nov 30, 2003 3:12PM PST

Latest Info: After reading Bob's "heavy maintenance" suggestions this morning, I powered down the computer, pulled the CD's plug from its socket, and rebooted the computer. Of course, the CD sat quietly while I worked with the computer.

Then I powered down and replugged the CD. The CD tray started repeatedly opening and closing again (but at a slightly slower cycle rate).

Finally, I powered down, unplugged the CD, started the computer and then, *while the computer was running*, I replugged the CD into its socket. So far (for an hour or more) the thing has not started opening and closing again. In fact, for the first time in several days the CD open/close button now works. I don't know how long this CD will remain quiet, but this change is enough to make me suspect that there could be more going on here than meets the eye. Also, I'm still mystified about why all the Windows references to CD drive (H) are missing.

Please tell me what you think. I know we're near the end of trying to fix this thing but I'd still like to try to see if I can get it running again here at my place. Thanks.

The End Happy

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Re:Requested Info - Part 1 to 3
Dec 1, 2003 2:55AM PST

"Exit without saving changes" from the BIOS might have been better. But it might be pure coincidence. And I don't see at all why an irregular shutdown of Windows would bring you in the BIOS the next time.

The first BIOS-listing is definitely the wrong one. It's the bootup sequence. You can speed up the boot process a little bit by interchanging item 1 and 2 (boot from the hard disk first). But that's got nothing to do with your problem. The IDE-contents generally (depends on the BIOS) are on the first screen. It shows all your disks.
So does the data from the boot. It clearly shows there is only one hard disk, and one CD drive recognised. The second is totally gone. If it isn't reported here, it won't be in DOS and it won't be in Windows.

You can make a bootdisk from Config Panel, Add/Remove Software, or you can download a program to make one from www.bootdisk.com. Don't forget to (re)set the BIOS to boot from first a:, then c: (see previous paragraph). The standard windows 98 disk ask if you want cd support. Then you could answer yes, or make the appropiate choice from a menu. But drive letters might different from what you have now! Try dir d: through dir z: (this should give two hits for two drives).

If the CD isn't shown bt BIOS it won't be shown in Device Manager, nor in My Computer or Explorer. These programs basically ask the BIOS what hardware is present before showing it to you.

It's not a good idea to connect and disconnect devices with the power on. They aren't designed for that, and might be damaged. I don't think the behavior in such circumstances will stick after a reboot.

I keep thinking a replacement cd-drive will solve all your problems.


Kees

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NT - got it all and thanks!
Dec 1, 2003 10:39AM PST

NT